Jefferson's in Albertville named best sports bar in northeast Alabama

Special to The TimesJefferson's has been named the best sports bar in northeast Alabama by Times readers.

ALBERTVILLE, AL -- Slide into a seat, order 50 "always fresh, never frozen" wings and enjoy the Braves as they take on the Mets, the Tennessee Titans play the Jacksonville Jaguars or Alabama battles Auburn.

So, what's all the fuss about for a sports bar 45 miles from Huntsville?

"Great food, great atmosphere," said Gil Bruce, who owns the Albertville franchise with his wife Sherrie. And unlike some sports bars where patrons swear like sailors and smoke is a free appetizer, Bruce said Jefferson's is "family-oriented."

The Albertville Jefferson's has been open for two months, but the franchise, which started in Jacksonville and now has seven locations, has been feeding folks and showing sports for almost 20 years.

Sean McCooey, a partner in the Jefferson's chain and 1990 Huntsville High grad, said his "goal is to get back to Huntsville" and open a Jefferson's restaurant.

According to both McCooey and Bruce, the sports-watching sanctuary has a huge following and a loyal customer base.

"You say the word Jefferson's restaurant and a smile comes to their faces," Bruce said.
Inside the Albertville Jefferson's, pennants from just about every sports team in the country -- both professional and college -- line the walls. And yes, both Alabama and Auburn pennants are prominently featured throughout the building.

Eight flat-screen TVs are scattered around the restaurant. And during halftime (or blow-outs) there's a Golden Tee video game (a must-have for any sports bar), an old-school Ms. Pac-Man game (a must-have for any bar) and a skill crane game (for winning a cute stuffed animal for your girlfriend before leaving the bar).

Besides a sports-themed decor and fancy televisions, every respectable sports bar must have awesome hot wings and cold, cheap beer. Jefferson's has both. The "double-dipped" wings, which are fried, dipped in "turbo" sauce and then re-fried, are a popular stomach filler, according Bruce. Pitchers of beer are $7. And there are food and drink specials every day.

"The goal (at Jefferson's) is something for everybody...at an affordable price," Bruce said.